Working as a Shepherd was a common occupation in the middle east. The people of Israel knew all too well the workings of keeping sheep. Jesus uses this common practice to teach a very valuable lesson to the people. He compares and contrasts the work of the good Shepherd versus the work of the hireling or the false Shepherd. It is in this setting that we see five things about the Good Shepherd.

                The Good Shepherd Gives. Jesus describes Himself as the door of the sheep. All who come to Jesus can enter and find rest. A thief, however, does not enter by way of the door. He comes in unawares to attempt to steal, kill, and destroy the sheep. But, Jesus came to give life. He came in order that the sheep would have life and life more abundantly. All that this world has to offer will bring death, but what Jesus has to offer brings life. The life that Jesus gives came with a great cost. In verse 11, Jesus said that He gives His life for the sheep. The cost for abundant life was the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross. He gave His life so that we may live. He made the ultimate sacrifice. Have you gone through the door? Have you gone to the cross? It is only in the cross of our Lord that one can enter into abundant life. There are other doors that are created by false shepherds, by thieves. There is the door of prosperity, the door of good works, and the door of religion. All of these doors will lead to destruction and death. There is only one door that leads to life. That door is the cross.

                The Good Shepherd Knows. In verse 14, Jesus says that He knows His sheep and His sheep know Him. One day, I went up to Wilmore Kentucky to visit my oldest daughter at Asbury University. As an equine student, she has a horse that she is training to be a police horse. The horse’s name is Royal. I had the opportunity to go with my daughter to the equine center. As we were driving past the pasture, Royal looked up and started walking toward the truck. She had never seen my truck before, but she knew my daughter was in the truck. How did she know? My daughter told me that horses have a bond with their owners or trainers. The bond is of such that the horse can detect the unique heartbeat of their owner or trainer up to a mile away. My friend, when you go to the cross and you’re gloriously saved, you now belong to Jesus. There is an unbreakable bond. He knows you and you know Him. Romans 8:16 says, “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.”^[1] Once you have gone through the right door. Once you have gone to the cross, there is a bond that cannot be broken. He knows you and He will never let you go!

                The Good Shepherd Provides. The Good Shepherd will lead His sheep to green pastures. Look at Psalm 23 and notice the care that the Good Shepherd has for His sheep. I have no lack. I am nurtured. I am given rest. I am restored. I have a future. These are just a few things the Good Shepherd provides. His care for me is far beyond anything I could ever imagine. He provides for me in ways that I cannot see. He provides for me more than I could ever deserve. Why? Because He is my Shepherd and I am His sheep and He loves me!

                The Good Shepherd Protects. There are wolves that will attempt to come into the fold and scatter and destroy the sheep. Wolves may come in with false teaching. Wolves may come in with seeds of discord. Wolves may come in with worldly practices. The Good Shepherd protects the sheep from such wolves. That protection comes as we stay close to the Good Shepherd. I remember as a child, anytime I was scared, I wanted to get as close to an adult as possible. I wanted to be shielded and protected by someone I trust. To be protected from the wolves, we must be close to Jesus. To be protected from false teaching, we must know what we believe and why we believe it by being in the Word and staying close to Jesus. To be protected from being pulled into the weeds of division and discord, we must stay close to the truth and the One that unites us and that is Jesus. To be protected from the wolves of worldly practices, we must stay close to Jesus, so we may know what is right and what is wrong, so that we make the right decisions. Trust in the Shepherd. Stay close to the Shepherd. For the Good Shepherd protects.

                The Good Shepherd Unites. In verse 16, Jesus says, “And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.”^[2] The fold that Jesus is speaking of here is the house of Israel. He says that there are others who are not of the Jews that also hears His voice and believes is, therefore, His sheep also. This, I believe, is a reference to the universal church. All those who have gone to the cross. All those who believe on the Lord Jesus. All those who have been born again. We are all part of the same body. We are all part of the same family. We are the church, the bride of Christ. One day, God will gather all believers from all nations, tribes, and tongues. On that day, we will all stand before Him in one accord and we will lift our voices in unison. We will worship the Good Shepherd. We will praise the One who gave His life for us. We will stand united, as one family, with one voice, and we will worship the Good Shepherd who has given us life.

                Jesus is the Good Shepherd. He is the door. He is the only way. Is He your Shepherd? Are you His sheep? Have you put your faith and trust in Christ alone?

^[1] The New King James Version (Ro 8:16). (1982). Thomas Nelson.

^[2] The New King James Version (Jn 10:16). (1982). Thomas Nelson.